Japanese

CAS LJ 111, 112 - First- and Second-Semester Japanese

Introduction to spoken and written Japanese and to fundamentals of Japanese grammar with oral drills and written exercises.

CAS LJ 211, 212 - Third- and Fourth-Semester Japanese

Elaboration and refinement of the fundamental skills introduced in the first year with an introduction to reading and composition.

Prereq: CAS LJ 112 or equivalent.

CAS LJ 283 - Modern Japanese Culture in Cinema (in English translation)

In this introduction to Japanese film, we will study works by the early great directors such as Kurosawa Akira, Mizoguchi Kenji, and Ozu Yasujiro; 1960s directors such as Oshima Nagisa and Teshigahara Hiroshi; and the more recent trends followed by directors such as Imamura Shohei and Itami Juzo. We will also consider changes in media, namely animation (anime) and its global reception. We will discuss the works as both forms of art and cultural expression. All films will be shown with subtitles. Discussion and readings are in English.

Section	Instructor
A1	Frederick

CAS LJ 304 - Third-Year Modern Japanese II

Reading modern texts. Development of writing and speaking skills. Regular compositions required. Readings from newspapers and journals on contemporary social, political, economic, and cultural topics.

Prereq: CAS LJ 303

Section	Instructor
A1	Henstock
B1	Henstock

CAS LJ 385 - Intensive Kanji

Supplements vocabulary and idiom for students beyond third-semester Japanese. Students learn to read and write the 1006 Kyôiku Kanji and recognize an additional 939 Jôyô Kanji in everyday Japanese. Concurrent enrollment in a four-skills language course encouraged.

Section	Instructor
A1	Snyder

Prereq: CAS LJ 211 or more than 300 Kanjii

CAS LJ 386 - Japanese Translation/Interpretation Workshop

It is commonly held that one really understands a text only when one attempts to translate it, but what does translation really involve? This course addresses the question from multiple angles, taking up the problem of translating what the text “means” rather than what it “says.” We also consider how linguistic differences and cultural contexts influence the way texts are written and examine the choices we face in decoding Japanese and encoding into English.

The goals of this class are two-fold. First, the class will enhance students’ knowledge of Japanese by developing practical skills in translation and interpretation. We will deal with short texts from different fields written in a range of styles: literary, journalistic, business, legal, and technical. In addition, there will be opportunities to practice interpreting. We will also familiarize ourselves with different types of dictionaries (online and paper-based) and other tools of the translator. Secondly, we will develop greater awareness of the philosophical problems of translation by reading articles on translation into Japanese as well as a few classic texts of translation theory.

If you have ever wondered what gets “lost in translation,” this course is for you.

Section	Instructor
A1	Elliott

Prereq: CAS LJ 212 or CAS LJ 211 and consent of instructor

CAS LJ 404 - Fourth-Year Modern Japanese II

Advanced-level reading and discussion in Japanese of selected articles from scholarly journals, essays, and short stories; compositions written in Japanese on topics from readings.

Section	Instructor
A1	Elliott

Prereq: CAS LJ 403

CAS LJ 445 - Readings in Japanese Civilization

Uses the Japanese language to learn about history, society, art, politics, and current issues from Japanese perspectives. Critical engagement with topics in Japanese culture through multiple forms of communication, including reading, writing, discussion, and video. Conducted in Japanese.

Prereq: CAS LJ 303, placement test, or consent of instructor.

Section	Instructor
A1	Henstock

CAS LJ 451 - Topics in Japanese Literature

Topic for Spring 2010: Postwar Japanese Literature. This course focuses on the meaning of the important concept of the "postwar" in Japanese culture and fiction. Through readings in short stories of written post-1945, we will work to develop techniques for reading, interpreting, and translating modern Japanese literary texts. We will read short stories and historical background in English to gain a broader picture of the period, while reading a selection of stories in Japanese only.

Prereq: One course in Japanese studies.

Section	Instructor
A1	Frederick

CAS LJ 481 - Topics in Japanese Literature (in English translation)

Topic for Spring 2010: Rise of the Modern and Encounter with the West: Japanese Literature 1864-1945. Fiction from the Meiji period through World War II, with attention to the effect on literature of Japan's rapid modernization and increased contact with the West. Works by Ogai, Soseki, Higuchi, and Tanizaki. Lectures and readings in English, originals available.

Prereq:one Japanese literature course or consent of instructor

Section	Instructor
A1	Vincent